This is no longer a feeler. After a night of thinking it over, I am putting her up for sale.
This is what I put out in yesterdays post plus some picture.

Mileage:198,800

The good:
1. Second owner. I have had her for several years.
2. I have done all the maintainence either personally or professionally.
3. Head gasket was done by Motorwerks last summer.
4. Lots of records.
5. Borsch euro headlights. Had a bracket fabricated so the US wipers could be used.
6. I spend well over $5000 on having all the rust on the body removed. This included a repaint of course.
7. I had the back window removed and had the hidden rust in there removed.
8. Same thing with the front window, but I had a new windshield installed.
9. Car is very clean. I dont allow anyone to eat or drink in the car.
10. Showed the car at the Sloan Museum Car Show last summer and at the Mercedes Club of America show. Took second in class.
11. Comes with Mercedes Service Manual (from Mercedes, not an ebay copy)
12. Replaced the monovalve, water temp sensor
13. Have the dealer invoice. Got it from mercedes.
14. Has the original becker with the introductory cassette that came with the car.
15. Original tool kit and phone.
16. Rubber mats for rainy days.
17. I also had the front brake pads changed about a year ago.
18. The rear rotors, pads and calipers were changed a few months ago.
19. Spark plugs last summer at motorwerks and wires the year before that.
20. New hood pad
21. I had to have the windshield wiper arm changed at the dealership

The Bad
1. I don't have all the records from the original owner. He assured me that he did all of them and believe him. This is where it sounds like a strange story. He bought the car when he was playing for the Detroit Lions. Used it as a family car etc. After he retired he coached at Grand Valley State University. He commuted form Detroit to Grand Rapids. Most of the miles are highway miles. When I bought the car, I went to his house. Gated community, kids in the schools-I understood why he commuted instead of moved to GR. He told me that he would mail out the records, but football season got underway and it got put on the back burner. Like I said, from speaking to him I believe he did all the maintainence. I do have some from him-the stuff that was in the glove compartment. He just took an NFL job and I don't think I can get a hold of him now. He probably threw out the records. When he tried to get the records from his safe he set of the alarm and the police showed up. He forgot the combination. I was in the driveway looking at the car. The cops just told me to stand there and not move while they checkout the house. I know sounds like a story. It actually took several trips to meet him to get him to sell the car. GVSU had given him a new Grand Cherokee to use. That helped him make up his mind about selling.
2. B-pillar. If you have a w126 you know about this. I was planning on having it taken care of next summer. I have been looking for a good shop and I found one that did museum cars, but they were pricey. Hence wanted to wait till next summer.
3. Since the repaint, the car has seen one winter. I washed her twice a week at the local do it yourself place and waxed her in the garage once a week.
4. The BIG ONE: The drive shaft needs be changed. You can get the parts from German Star for about $400 to $500. Instructions to change are on the CD.
5. The car still wants to stall out some times at a stop sign/light. I don't have this problem if I let the car warm up a bit first. (2 to 3 minutes)

$3500 OBO. I understand the nature of car shopping so make me an offer. I will not take offense to reasonable offers. Business is business.
More pictures in my gallery. Either pm me or email me at pillayyu@msu.edu

Attached Thumbnails

Mike

Last edited by Michael Pillay; 11-08-2006 at 05:33 AM.
Reason: new price

Thanks. I am okay if it sells or not. My wife has been reminding me that I have wanted a project car for a while (not this is anywhere like a project car). Instead of sinking money into a porsche 912 or 356 or a bug, she thinks I should hold onto the w126 and make it perfect. Pretty much what I have been doing since I got her. Driving her last winter just killed me. I would rush to the car wash after work just to get that stupid salt off of it. If it does not sell, I will be glad to have it safely tucked away in the garage for the winter. I just got a SLK 230 so I have another car around to drive if I need. I can change out the drive shaft next summer. It should not take more than a couple of days and my son will be old enough to "help". Which is kind of what I wanted with having a restoration project.
I know I listed a ton of stuff in my initial description of the w126, but if you guys knew the level of obsession that went into this car, you probably would recommend I go into therapy.
The starter went out a couple of years ago. I found out who the porsche dealership used for their stater rebuilds. Turned out to be a shop pretty close to me so I had the work done there.
I have had people follow me into resturants, compliment me on the car and walk out of the resturant. I love this car. If it sells, it sells. The new owner will get a well cared for car. If it does not, thats good too. Before I am done, it will look better that it did the day it rolled onto the showroom floor at the Farmington Hills dealership.